Insecticidal toxins derived from funnel web (atrax or hadronyche) spiders

摘要

The invention relates to insect viruses and plants which express an exogenous polypeptide derived from spiders of the genus Atrax or Hadronyche, which polypeptide is toxic to insects. The polypeptide has a molecular weight of approximately 4000 amu,) containing 36-37 Gino acids, and is capable of forming three intrachain disulfide bridges. Polyiucleotides which encode the polypeptide, insectidoidal compositions and methods of controlling insect infestation of crops are also included.